Diabetes mellitus is a major metabolic disorder that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Altered calcium (Ca²⁺) homeostasis, particularly through store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), has emerged as a critical pathway linking diabetes with cardiac dysfunction. Evidence indicates that SOCE is dysregulated in diabetes, but findings remain controversial. Some studies report reduced SOCE due to downregulation or impaired coupling of STIM1 and Orai1, leading to altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis and cardiac dysfunction. Others demonstrate enhanced SOCE linked to Orai and STIM isoforms upregulation, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction, maladaptive hypertrophy, and metabolic remodeling in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Recent work also highlighted an unexpected role of STIM1 in fatty acid metabolism, linking Ca²⁺ signaling with energy substrate preference in the diabetic heart. This chapter synthesizes current evidence on the molecular mechanisms of STIM and Orai proteins in the regulation of SOCE under diabetic conditions, highlighting their roles in heart dysfunction.

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to rise, highlighting the need for culturally relevant, plant-based functional ingredients capable of attenuating postprandial glycaemic responses. This study explored the physicochemical, technofunctional, antioxidant and in vitro antiglycaemic properties of Telfairia occidentalis leaf and seed powders, with emphasis on their application in low-glycaemic food systems. The leaf powder (TLP) was characterised by high dietary fibre (9.42 ± 0.56 g/100 g) and polyphenol (TPC: 76.59 ± 1.62 mg GAE/g; TFC: 44.58 ± 0.77 mg QE/g), exhibiting strong antioxidant activity. In contrast, the seed powder (TSP) was rich in protein (29.52 ± 0.34 g/100 g) and lipids (19.71 ± 0.73 g/100 g), demonstrating superior oil-holding, emulsifying and structural properties. Both fractions exhibited complementary antiglycaemic effects, including enzyme inhibition, glucose adsorption and reduced glucose diffusion, indicating multiple mechanisms of action. TSP exhibited moderate α-amylase (IC₅₀: 2580 ± 0.04 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀: 2230 ± 0.00 μg/mL), although lower than TLP (α-amylase IC₅₀: 1530 ± 0.08 μg/mL; α-glucosidase inhibition IC₅₀: 840 ± 0.02 μg/mL) but was higher than acarbose (IC₅₀: 530 ± 0.05 and 330 ± 0.02 μg/mL, respectively). Scanning electron micrographs and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed distinct microstructural and molecular differences between TLP and TSP, highlighting a fibre-rich porous matrix in the leaf and a protein-lipid-dominated structure in the seed. Functionally, TLP contributes fibre- and polyphenol-mediated glucose regulation and antioxidant protection, whereas TSP provides protein-lipid-driven functional performance and modulation of glucose release and transport. These findings suggest that integrating TLP and TSP into composite formulations represents a promising strategy for developing low-glycaemic, antioxidant-rich foods with potential relevance for type 2 diabetes management.

Allergic disorders such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis affect a large portion of the global population. The relationship between allergies and cancer has been studied extensively, but results remain inconsistent for head and neck cancer. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate whether there is a negative association between allergic disorders and head and neck cancer. A systematic search of five databases was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Cohort- and case-control studies examining allergies and head and neck cancer were included. Random-effect and fixed-effect models were used to calculate pooled relative risk, with heterogeneity assessed via the I2 and Cochrane's Q-test. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore variations by study design, allergy type, and cancer site. Twenty-five studies with 3.6 million participants were included. No significant overall association was found between allergic diseases and head and neck cancer (meta-RR: 0.89; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.76-1.05). Subgroup analyses revealed protective effects for asthma (meta-RR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.70-0.95) and food allergies (meta-RR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.54-0.99). Allergic rhinitis showed negative associations with oropharyngeal cancer (meta-RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.69-0.84) and hypopharyngeal cancer (meta-RR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.55-0.78), but a positive association with nasopharyngeal cancer (meta-RR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.15-2.43). These findings suggest complex relationships between allergies and head and neck cancer, with negative and positive associations varying by allergy type and cancer site. Further research is needed to clarify these associations.

Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome and the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer. In addition to colorectal cancer, it confers substantially increased risks for several extracolonic malignancies. While there is broad consensus regarding the effectiveness of endoscopic colorectal surveillance, recommendations for surveillance of gastric, small bowel, and pancreatic cancers vary considerably among guidelines issued by leading professional societies. These discrepancies largely reflect the limited availability of robust, high-quality evidence. In this narrative review, we summarize the cancer risks for gastric, small bowel, and pancreatic malignancies in Lynch syndrome carriers, discuss recent studies evaluating the outcomes of surveillance strategies, and provide an overview of current guideline recommendations. Furthermore, we highlight emerging approaches that may enhance surveillance strategies in the future. In recent years, increasing research efforts have focused on surveillance for less frequent Lynch syndrome-associated malignancies, however, prospective data from large, well-characterized cohorts remain scarce. Such data are essential to harmonize existing guidelines and to enable the development of personalized surveillance strategies for individuals affected by Lynch syndrome.

The surgical management of sporadic optic pathway glioma (OPG) remains controversial due to its unpredictable visual outcomes and uncertain risk-benefit balance. This study aimed to identify key clinical and surgical determinants of long-term visual preservation following tumor debulking in children with sporadic OPG.

A total of 192 pediatric patients who underwent initial partial resection for sporadic OPG at Beijing Tiantan Hospital between 2011 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two complementary outcomes were assessed: follow-up visual acuity (VA) of the better-eye defined at baseline and individual visual change. Ordinal and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors, supplemented by trend and visualization analyses.

Baseline VA was the strongest predictor of follow-up VA of the baseline-defined better-eye (OR = 5.88, P < 0.001). Poorer outcomes were associated with younger age (< 3 years), delayed surgery, extent of resection ≥ 50%, and postoperative radiotherapy. Among patients with moderate baseline VA, a greater resection extent showed a trend toward worse outcomes. The anterior interhemispheric approach was linked to higher risk of visual deterioration, whereas transcallosal and frontotemporal approaches were protective. Early intervention, limited resection, and careful avoidance of high-risk surgical corridors were associated with better long-term visual preservation.

Preoperative baseline VA determines postoperative visual potential, while surgical timing, extent, and approach critically shape long-term outcomes. Patients with moderate baseline VA are the most intervention-sensitive subgroup. These findings support early, conservative, and function-oriented surgical strategies to optimize visual outcomes in pediatric sporadic OPG.

Data on specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs2072454 and rs2227983, remain limited, particularly in North African populations. This study aimed to evaluate the association between these two SNPs and lung cancer risk in a Western Algerian population.

This is a case-control study including 143 participants, 73 lung cancer patients recruited from the University Hospital Centre of Oran, and 70 healthy controls recruited from the blood transfusion centre of the University Hospital Establishment of Oran (UHEO) and volunteer pool. Genotyping of EGFR rs2072454 and rs2227983 polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Statistical analyses were conducted using R software, with logistic regression models adjusted for gender and smoking status.

The CT genotype of rs2072454 showed a nominal association with increased lung cancer risk under the overdominant model (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.04-5.30, p = 0.04). For rs2227983, while the dominant model (AG/ GG vs AA) demonstrated the best fit based on AIC/BIC criteria, however, only the AG genotype showed a borderline association in adenocarcinoma cases under the codominant model (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.0-7.5, p = 0.04). No significant haplotype associations or linkage disequilibrium was observed between the two SNPs.

These findings suggest potential, but uncertain, associations between EGFR polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility in this population. The results should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited sample size and require validation in larger cohorts.

Swedish family and cancer data constitute the largest source on familial cancer in the world. We analyze here familial risks in prostate cancer (PC) with focus on multiple affected brothers and comparation of full-brothers to maternal and paternal half-brothers. Age-specific incidence and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for PC in brothers. Curves for relative risk (RR) by diagnostic age were plotted for risk distributions. A total of 115,066 PCs were diagnosed in 1.2 million men. Familial SIR for full brothers was 2.23, for maternal half-brothers it was 1.92 and paternal half-brothers was 1.34. Considering SIRs with least possible detection bias (7+ years after first brother's diagnosis) the above SIRs were 2.06, 1.66 and 1.41. SIRs in full brothers increased stepwise by the number of affected brothers reaching 21.33 when 6 brothers were affected. Age-RR curves for two affected brothers declined evenly from RR 2.8 at age 45 to below 2.0 at age 80. When four or more brothers were affected, a discrete high-risk peak (RR 4-7) was detected between ages 60 and 69. Data on full-brothers and half-brothers indicate that familial risk in PC is largely genetic which is also supported by discrete RR peaks in high-risk families at ages matching preferential penetrance age for known predisposition genes of PC. Familial risk increased already when two brothers were affected calling for clinical vigilance concerning family history. Family history should deserve a place as an inclusion criterium in schemes for PC screening.

This review aims to synthesize and critically appraise the most impactful advances in radiotherapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) reported in 2025, with a focus on technological innovations, fractionation paradigms, combination strategies, and personalized approaches.

The year 2025 has witnessed the increasing acceptance of hypofractionated RT as an effective alternative in multiple settings, offering non-inferior efficacy with improved convenience. Prospective and real-world evidence consistently validates preoperative moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy for extremity/superficial trunk STS, with mature local control and acceptable toxicity. Stereotactic body radiotherapy and particle therapy have expanded their roles, particularly in recurrent, metastatic, or pediatric STS. Robust evidence supports synergistic combinations of RT with targeted agents (e.g., PARP inhibitors, pazopanib) and immunotherapy, especially in high-risk subtypes. Advances in multiparametric MRI and pathological biomarkers (e.g., hyalinization, tumor-infiltrating monocytes) enable early response assessment and prognostication, paving the way for adaptive, personalized RT. Radiotherapy for STSs in 2025 is characterized by personalized, precision-based approaches that improve local control, reduce toxicity, and preserve quality of life. Continued integration of advanced technologies, biomarker-guided strategies, and novel systemic combinations will further optimize outcomes. Future efforts should focus on validating surrogate endpoints, enhancing global access, and incorporating artificial intelligence into adaptive workflows. Careful attention to RT-related toxicities is critical for balancing efficacy and safety in practice.

Current chemotherapy protocols for treatment of embryonal brain tumors in children may recommend administration of intrathecal chemotherapy, either by a lumbar tap or via an Ommaya reservoir. Children with concurrent hydrocephalus and shunts may have subtherapeutic levels of chemotherapy in the CSF due to constant CSF drainage to extra-CNS compartments. We present our experience in delivery of chemotherapy to children via programmable valves.

A retrospective analysis of children with CNS malignancies together with hydrocephalus treated with a shunt and a programmable valve (CERTAS™ Plus Programmable Valves-Integra Life Sciences, proGAV®-Miethke) was conducted.

Eighteen children up to 16 years of age (mean age 5 years) were included. Main pathologies included medulloblastomas (7) and atypical rhabdoid teratoid tumor (5). Each patient underwent 3-55 intrathecal injections (17 ± 14). One patient developed symptomatic hydrocephalus during the injection, which resolved with valve resetting. There were no infections, leaks, or major complications. One child required a wound revision due to exposure of the proximal catheter related to extremely thin skin. One patient experienced a "stuck" setting of the valve. Eight children are alive with no active disease, 25-80 months after shunt placement (52 ± 21). There were no late effects related to IT chemotherapy.

Programmable ventriculoperitoneal valves are a safe method for delivery of intra-ventricular chemotherapy in children. This technique may potentially have an added value for children with concurrent shunts and may also obviate the need for an additional ventricular access device (such as an Ommaya reservoir).

The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an imaging biomarker of glioblastoma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMMs), yet no SPECT tracer is currently available for GAMM imaging. Guided by the high-affinity P2X7R scaffold JNJ-64413739 and molecular docking, we designed two radioiodination-ready analogues, FJR01 and FJR02. Compounds were screened in vitro using homogenates from cell lines stably expressing mouse or human P2X7R; FJR01 was prioritised (hP2X7R, IC₅₀ = 8.8 nM). Radioiodination afforded [¹³¹I]FJR01 in high radiochemical yield (95%) with excellent stability. In normal mice, biodistribution showed high brain uptake and rapid clearance. In a rat C6 glioma model, in vivo SPECT demonstrated focal tumour accumulation, which was corroborated by ex vivo autoradiography; immunofluorescence confirmed P2X7R expression in GAMMs. Histopathology (H&E) and mouse-to-human dosimetry supported a favourable safety profile and the clinical translation potential of [¹³¹I]FJR01. In addition, [¹³¹I]FJR01 is well suited as a probe for competitive binding assays to screen next-generation P2X7R-targeted ligands.